#122 The Importance of Networking to Further Your Career with Therese Deane

0:00
In this week’s episode of the show, I interview one of our 360 leaders club members Therese Deane. Therese is a senior director in the semiconductor industry and she is a shining light of what it means to work on yourself. She is talking all about how she takes care of herself, how she makes time for her own learning and development, some surprise and hacks she uses with her kids to get them to help out in the house, the power of networking and join in 360 liters club and so much more. This is a really wonderful chat with an amazing lady. So I hope you enjoy Welcome to the 360 leadership podcast, the top rated show for driven women in senior leadership with new episodes released every Wednesday. I’m your host Lucy Gernon, a multi award winning executive coach for women leaders and the founder of 360 leaders Club exclusive high level membership for career driven family orientated women just like you. I created the 360 leadership podcast to share practical tips, actionable step by step strategies and inspiring stories to support you to unlock the power and belief within to accelerate your impact and potential. So you can build a life filled with success, balance and happiness. So are you ready to achieve 360 degree success? No more excuses. No more waiting. Your time is now. Welcome back to another episode of the 360 leadership Podcast. Today I am joined by a very special guest one of my beautiful amazing clients and 360 liters club members. Therese Deane, Therese, I want to get you to introduce yourself in a second. But Therese is a powerhouse when it comes to flying the flag for women in STEM. And also she is a networking Pro, which is exactly why I wanted to have trees on the podcast today. So Therese, you are very welcome to the show.

1:54
Thanks so much. And Lucy? lovely introduction. Thank you.

2:00
Well, listen, I’m not going to do justice. So maybe do you want to just share with our listeners who you are? What you do as far as personnel and career wise. Okay.

2:10
Okay. Well, I work for Macomb technology solutions. They’re a US semiconductor company. They’re headquartered in Lowell, Massachusetts. But I am based in our international headquarters, which is in Cork, Ireland. And my title is Senior Director, Global compliance and quality systems, which is a lot of words. But essentially, I help us to comply with local legislation. And then I’m also responsible for the design of our Quality Management System globally as well, too. And that really just helps us improve the way we do things. Amazing,

2:55
amazing. And like, so I suppose you’re working in a in a multinational, so you get the whole I suppose the timezone thing and the different cultures like how do you manage that in your role?

3:07
I think it’s just bring in your humanity to work within. Because everyone is just trying to do their best, and walk in the world and do good work and, and live their lives. And bringing your humanity to work. Means you’re seeing people, you hear people, you’re understanding other people’s experience, and then you’re helping them shine. Ai, you’re when you see people and you hear people, and you work together, and you orj and you figure out the best way forward. I

3:44
love that I like trays is just a bubble of positivity. So any company that you ever work with are very, very lucky, like we tell you and tell me they said what about your personal life? Tell us a little bit about you in terms of like your, your where you’re you’re from and what kind of led you into this path as well.

3:59
Well, I from Cork, I’m from Ireland. And I lived in Dublin for a few years. But I moved back to core quite a while back. And I have been in multiple sectors. I was in that semi state sector. I was in the SME sector, and now multinational sector. So I’ve seen across all three sectors, I think. And I think that’s great. I have a My husband is based here in Cork, he’s from Cork, I have two boys, 115 and 110. And they’re great. They’re there. They’re lovely boys, and they’re really good at actually contributing to the house. And

4:44
okay, pause. Let’s tell us about this because I know a lot of my listeners. As you know, we work a lot on work life balance and 360s. Well, it’s a massive value of mine. So how do you get your kids to help out so that you’ve got more time for all your exercise and all those fun? things that you do that

5:01
well, they’re great to do them first are brilliant. And Boyd, they have always seen me work. And they’ve always seen me work full time. And as they grew up, they started doing little bits and pieces around the house. So, and now as they get older, they’re doing more, so they just know that they’re part of living in the house, they need to contribute. Now they, they do it automatically.

5:31
Like what do they do? Like what are their their jobs in the house? Oh, well, the

5:35
older guy now he cuts the grass, he Hoover’s he, he does washing laundry, he’s now started ironing, which is fab, oh

5:46
my god, fabulous. They don’t have

5:49
to own the cotton, white uniform shirts anymore. And that’s brilliant. And then the younger guy does the dishwasher, he sets the table. He picks up after himself. And he. And he’s doing more now as he’s getting older as well, too. The other thing that they do is they get organized for themselves the night before. Something I brought into the house is they unpack their bags and put away their stuff when they come home. And then they get ready the night before, to keep the stress levels down in the morning.

6:28
Oh my god, I love this is cars, this is gold, because I just pause you there for a second tres is one that we’re going to talk about networking and getting out there in a few minutes. But tres has makes time for herself. And I’ve always wondered because I do the same what you’re saying as well with my kids. And I’ve always wondered how you do it. And now you’re saying that you get the boys to really help out. So what I’m wondering is for my listeners here, who are wondering how did you get? So my kids complain? Right? My kids, like do it. But they don’t enjoy doing it. So I give them pocket money. And Allah kind of softens it? How like, what’s the carrot? Or how did you get them to do these things?

7:06
I did a little bit of that there was a little bit of the pocket money bit. But they see me work, I think at that closer leadership to they see me do a lot of work in the house, and they see me support them in very practical ways. So then they learned early on that, that I support them, and my husband supports them. So they’re then happy to support me fabulous, which is really nice. So we don’t have a whole lot of discussions and arguments about just do it. They just do it.

7:48
Oh my god, tres you’re coming to my house, can you my house, please and talk to my children.

7:55
Now that’s happened over time. And the other thing that I’ve I’m really enjoying taking care of myself. First is one simple thing I did in the morning. And in the evenings is I get myself organized first before I do anything for them. So when I go downstairs in the morning, I get my own lunch organized, and do all that first before I start making their lunches. So then I am not making bad choices at the last minute trying to run out the door.

8:26
Yeah, I think that’s so important. Like, you know, this whole thing about, you know, filling your own cup first and taking care of yourself first. A lot of women find that very difficult. So what would you say to our listeners here who are listening and going? I feel guilty taking care of myself first. Ah,

8:45
I think we all do. We all am. Maybe we all did. But I think changing your mindset is an I’ve learned this over time. I’m not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. But when you take care of yourself, first, you start realizing that the guilt never should have been there in the first place. Yeah, it’s allowed to creep in. But if you take care of yourself first, you’re given the world the best version of yourself. Exactly. So the guilt shouldn’t be there in the first place. But it’s hard for women because it’s there systemically and socially and organizationally, it’s hard. But I think we’ve got to stand up and just start taking that power back. Exactly,

9:35
exactly. And that’s what we are all about in 2016 as well. So let’s maybe just Yeah, so let’s just talk a little bit about I suppose what made you first in invest in coaching so we’re working together a while now How long are we working together? You’re in 360 like since the start you’re an OG Yeah,

9:54
yeah, yeah. Well over a year now and I did procrastinate a bit about joining, because I did feel oh my goodness, I don’t have the time. How am I going to make the time for this? My role is very busy. There’s a lot, it’s intense. So how am I going to make the time for it? And I struggled a bit in the beginning making the time for fish, because I let work creep in, and eat into that time. And but over time, I’ve seen the value of it. And I’m being more diligent in protecting my time and giving my time to it.

10:38
See the value? And what value are you seeing? Like what’s what value has been, I suppose in this community, given you? Well, first of all, before we even get to that question, like, what made you want to join in the first place? What was the thing that made you want to reach out and actually

10:55
join with your podcast, I was listening to your podcast, and I heard you talking about 361 of the days and starting 360 And one of the podcasts. And I just said, Right, I need to act. And the reason being was, I think I did feel a little bit stuck in my leadership journey, I was looking for a specific type of development. I loved that it was women centered. I loved that it sounded really practical. And really optimistic loads of energy, I love your energy on the podcast for two. So I was gonna write, I need to move. But it took me a while to actually make the decision. I procrastinated a bit, as I was going, Oh, God, now we need to act.

11:49
And what were the fears that were cropping up for you in that? Because I hear that a bit as well. I have people who are like, and I’ve been there myself before working with coaches to you’re kind of like, I really want to do it. But actually, I don’t know if we can do it. I don’t know if I have the time. I don’t know if I want to invest in myself. I don’t know, is it gonna work for me? I don’t know if I want to like these people, like all these things go through our heads. So how did you like what fears were coming up for you?

12:11
I think the two big things were the investment piece. I never really invested in my own development myself. I’ve read and I’ve learned and I’ve done and I’ve done, you know, learn through on the job training, but I’ve never actually gone. I am investing in myself for this reason. So that was a step change for me. And then the other thing, I guess was was giving it the time. How do I find the time for this? Because a again, work work is intense. And you’re trying to keep the show on the road. I think women that was a big piece for me, actually, women are constantly trying to keep all the balls in the air, show on the road, do everything and they do put themselves last. Do you

13:02
think that’s the right way for women to be? No, no. Guide? So I’m wondering then, like, you know, when you were having all those like you wanted to join for, like that sense of community, you were feeling a bit stuck, you wanted all of the things that we do and say 360 in terms of being the best leader and being the best version of yourself and yet all these other voices gone? I can’t do it. Right? It’s the investment. It’s the time. So what was it that made you go Do you know what, I deserve to invest in myself, I deserve to give myself this time.

13:36
I trusted my instincts, I was on instinct, oh my gosh, are telling me I need this. And then the other side was probably getting involved with network Ireland as well too. Because that is a a networking organization, run by women, for women in business. And I just saw this amazing dynamic of, of an organization run by women for women. That a and 360 has this networking, you know, component is a big component 360. But I think networking with women is different. It’s because I don’t other types of networking before but it just felt different with women. It’s not transactional, I felt it’s not transactional, not a zero sum game. I think women see each other, they hear each other. They’re open, they support each other. And you know, all all comers are welcome. And at that’s what I found with 360 is everybody’s welcome. And everybody’s seen and network Ireland is the same everybody’s welcome. No matter what room you walk into. People are smiling and and welcoming you in. If you just have the courage to say To walk into the room, smile and say hello to people, people will absolutely talk to you and welcome you. And

15:06
then I’m curious, like, again, that’s something that I hear as well, a lot would be. Sometimes women are we kind of see each other as competition. And, you know, women, Let’s call a spade a spade, we can be known for being a bit bitchy or a bit sometimes, right. And I’ve heard that from people before, kind of a bit skeptical about opening up inside, like so say, you know, we have obviously got our group coaching calls in 360. And, you know, it’s a totally safe space where people can share, I’ve never seen any judgment or anyone, like, look at anyone in a certain way, like, what would you say about that, in terms of your experience on our coaching calls where you, you have shared a challenge or something that’s happened.

15:47
totally supportive. And I think just being honest, is and talking about what you’re going through, because more than likely people are going through similar challenges or have, I think that’s, that’s a big positive for 360, as well, too, is the context piece. Because we’re all in quite senior roles, we’ve all got a lot of responsibility. We’re all going through probably similar challenges, and have had similar experiences. So even though we’re from different industries, and different companies, we can support each other in really practical ways. And I’ve seen the support absolutely there. And so, it just being willing, again, to bring your whole humanity to the thing, okay, we’re all okay. I, from a historical point of view, going back to what you were saying there about, you know, women can be seen as possibly in competition with each other, or a little bit bitchy, I think that’s going. Personally, I think that was a product of women trying to move up through male dominated systems and organizations and maybe being the only woman in the room and you feel like you have to protect that position, or the system is designed to make you feel that you have to protect that position. And that’s changing now, as more women are coming into leadership, and more people are learning how to support each other, I think the younger generations are not so much in competition with feel like they aren’t because they know that they don’t have to be the, you know, we’re starting to realize that women adopted and adapted to the power structure that was imposed upon them. And we can influence the power structure now.

17:55
Yeah, exactly. And I love that you’re saying that, because I definitely see that too, that the world is changing. And I think, you know, anyone who’s listening now who’s thinking, who still has that mindset of, you know, obviously, the higher up you go, the few women there are in senior leadership. But actually, it’s all about collaboration over competition. And I remember like, you know, even for me as an entrepreneur, like, obviously, when I first started my business, I would have been comparing myself to other people, and oh, my God, and what if this happens, and you know, I’m not as good as them or, you know, I can’t like, support this other coach, because she might steal my clients, like, all these things happen in your mind. And then I remember chatting to my coach about going this feels icky. I want to support everybody, I want people to support me. So she was talking to me about like having an abundance mindset years ago, which changed my life, which was like, there’s plenty of room for all of us. And there’s, there’s, there’s enough roles, there’s enough roles out there in the world for every single woman who is ambitious. But if you the way to get there faster is actually by supporting one another, not by being in competition, you know, why would you why would you say the same? Absolutely.

19:07
Simply because I think even just as supporting and echoing and encouraging. One of my managers now she’s amazing. She’s a powerhouse, she just does so much work. And she is she always felt the work would speak for itself, which she’s realizing now that she has to be her own advocate, trying to encourage her and support her and increase her visibility, and then encourage her to increase her own visibility. And she’s really coming around to that now and realizing that, you know, she, she can do this and she can be out there and she can get visibility and advocacy is important. Yes. And just as

20:04
important. Yeah. And like, what are your tips around that? Like, you know, obviously that I’m, like banging the drum on advocating for yourself every single week. But what would you say is important? And how do you do it?

20:18
Oh, my goodness, let’s see, that’s, that’s a journey too. Because I would have felt the same in the past as well, too, because I love learning. And I love taking on new stuff. So my role has grown. Every year, since I joined may calm, I’ve taken on new responsibilities, I’ve done new things. And it’s usually new stuff that the company has never done before. And we’re trying to figure out how to work it, and they’ll stick my hand up and, and push put myself in the firing line to try and do something new. When you’re doing something new, it’s never perfect. You know, you’re you’re learning, acting, doing making mistakes all at the same time. And you feel that, and this is me anyway, I felt that in a lot of cases, I wasn’t ready to communicate about it, until I actually delivered it. But as I am learning and developing myself, I am realizing no, it’s okay. To see, this isn’t perfect. But this is where I think we need to go, Yes, this is how I think we need to go there. And to really be okay with it not being perfect. And

21:44
you know what, like, that’s something that I would definitely see in you, I can see a big change in the last year in terms of like your level of perfectionism and pressure, you kind of put on yourself to make things perfect, I love that you’re, you’re really realizing that it is all about the journey. And it’s not necessarily about the end result. And so I wanted to ask you as well, I suppose in terms of you said that you love learning, right? And it just makes me smile, because what I’ve realized over the last probably only the last six months that every single person who has joined 360 has a massive love of learning. So watch, like, obviously, we have my you know, we have our Connect call where I do my little teaching every morning, give you the tools and then set you the challenge. And then we have the guest experts in every single month as well. Like what have you learned from your time, would you say in 360? Now, I know you’ve probably learned a lot, but like, what are the things that are popping into your mind as I asked you that,

22:42
like the learning and development piece is huge. I think that’s another big piece of 360 is the learning and development piece. And I think it’s centered around really leadership skills and transformational leadership skills, which you’re really good at communicating and teaching through multiple different avenues. I think what women are really good at transformative, transformational leadership. And they’re, I think women will absorb it because that’s where their instincts are anyway. And that their natural talents lie there because we’re great at being good. We want to do excellent work, we want to do good work. We’re very practical. We want to move forward. And then we want to help people. So we bring all that together. And that’s transformational leadership.

23:51
And are there any like tools or like sessions that we’ve done that are springing to mind that you I know you really liked when we had Rob marine on the strategic piece didn’t see anything else bring into mind that you enjoyed?

24:03
Yeah, I love that piece because that’s my brain is is strategy and reasoning. I love all that. And my job hunting, my job is looking right across the business. So I see all of our locations, all departments all the supply chain as part of what I do. So I love seeing right across the business. So I love the strategy piece. The other piece was taking care of yourself. I love that that was a game changer for me. Because until you start taking care of yourself, you can’t see clearly. And then there was a great one this week on neuro diversity. So my my son is neurodiverse he’s high functioning autism, my youngest, but I also think my elder boy has has is neurodiverse as well. Oh, it’s saying that that was great in a really practical, human way, the way Ashlyn communicated was really lovely. But working in the tech industry, there’s loads of people in my industry who are neurodiverse. Yeah, and being able to work with people and lead people forward. It means you need to understand where people are coming from. And that, you know, again, all comers are welcome. And everybody has something to give, and something valuable to give. So recognizing those skills, and being able to help people contribute to the best of their ability is really important. So I love that one as well, yesterday. Amazing,

25:40
amazing. And that’s the thing, like, you know, I don’t even know if you know this, but every, every guest I choose is based on what I’m hearing in the industry, but and what I’m hearing from you guys, so let’s like, just for anyone who doesn’t know what we’re talking about, every month in 360, we bring in a guest expert, sometimes your guests might be me. But most of the time, we have a guest expert in teaching on something and while I’ve been really seen and hearing lately is around this whole area of diversity of neuro neuro diversity, because, you know, I actually think I have ADHD, by the way, I’m actually about to go to a diagnosis process for it. And but I think it’s so important because so many people are judged in work so many, you know, I cope with the girls in 360, or whatever is proudly neurodiverse as well. And they’ve been educating me on you know, how, you know, people who are neurodiverse may react a lot more defensively to feedback, for example, than somebody who’s not because of how their brain works. So I think it’s really important as leaders that, you know, we educate ourselves on that, because we are not living back in the 80s anymore, where you were just told to sit down and be quiet, or whatever it is, you know, but I also think too, like, you know, that’s one part of obviously what we do, but then we’ve had our nutritionist in last month, didn’t we, we had our nutritionist in, so I always try to give the guests that will give you that 360 degree success. So it’s all about success, balance and happiness with me. So it’s not as leadership, it’s obviously the balance, and it’s the happiness mindset piece, too. Would you agree based on what you’ve kind of experienced?

27:15
Absolutely, because I think that women understand that as well. Because sometimes I feel men concentrate more on the harder skills where women are bringing the whole person to the equation. Yeah. So and they’re more open to learning about this and taking care of themselves. So and they know, as they learn, I think that you know, if you take care of yourself, and that means exercise, it means food, it means sleep, it means taking care of the introvert and the extrovert. introverts and extroverts need different things. neurodiverse people need different things. And then you can bring your best self to the table then. Exactly,

28:05
exactly. And I love that’s one thing, actually, for anyone less than two, you’re making me think about, you know, insight in 360. Every week we do our weekly wins. And always in there, we’ll see things like I held myself accountable to exercise in like three days this week, or I got out for a walk or like the winds are always cell signal things around life and work. I think it’s sometimes people when they join, they’re like, I didn’t have any wins this week. But when they start to see actually, we see taken a lunch break as a win, don’t we trays and we see gap now for a walk as a win. And we’re there to encourage everybody right

28:44
now. Yeah. And that is changing our mindset. My husband now was starting to do that as well, where he is realizing the benefit of actually taken lunch, getting out for a walk, taking care of himself, you know, eating properly getting up and exercising first thing in the morning. He’s starting to absorb all those and all the ways and innovations as well too. Amazing.

29:08
I love that. And that’s the thing too, right? Isn’t it? Would you say like the skills and tools that you’ve been learning and like it’s having a ripple effect on the people around you? Absolutely.

29:17
Yeah, yeah. Definitely on the learning piece, you know, all of the learnings that we go through, I’m bringing into my own staff and my own organization, but also bring it into home. Yeah. And which is brilliant. And so it is it is having a ripple effect, literally. And

29:41
that’s the thing too, like, you know, I really encourage you all, not just to keep the knowledge. I’m not one of these people who’s like, this is my intellectual property. I don’t want you to show me your team. I’m like, show your team, show your family give them the tools because like, that’s what’s the point and you invest in yourself if it’s just gonna stay with you All knowledge is supposed to be shared. That’s what I think. Especially for people who love learning. Yeah,

30:04
I think so. And and then, you know, it’s if you don’t share it, you’re kind of pulling up the ladder behind you. So,

30:12
I like that. Oh,

30:14
you know, you’re you’re sharing it means you’re supporting everybody else. Exactly. And everybody’s moving forward together. Yeah. Love

30:22
it. Love it. Okay. So I just finally, just before I ask you my kind of closing questions that I always ask, I would just love to know, finally on, I suppose your 360 experience? Like who would you say it’s a really good fit for like, who would you say, should join? Oh,

30:39
well, anyone who is looking for a next step really on their leadership journey, I think I, then anyone is feeling a bit stuck. And trying to figure out the next best step. Sometimes we think we need like more harder skills, you know, more technical qualifications, or business qualifications. But leadership skills is so important, no matter where you are in an organization. So anyone who’s feeling a bit stuck, or anyone I think, who’s feeling a bit overwhelmed, and trying to figure out a better work life balance. Because you need to change your mindset a bit to get that work life balance, and be able to develop your leadership skills.

31:31
Absolutely. And we will definitely do that inside 360. Amazing, amazing. Okay, so tres. Finally, I just want to ask you, as I always ask you, what would what was the best piece of advice you’ve ever received, I ask all my listeners this.

31:50
Well, I’m gonna go a bit left field here, because the best piece of advice I got was from an amazing lady called Sarab London. She is an author and a meditation guide. And she’s on Insight Timer. And I always go back to one of her meditations is called Learn to surrender. Essentially, it’s get out of your own way. And surrender to the life you want. Because the universe will have your back if it allows if you allow it to Oh, my

32:31
God, you’re gonna make me crying. I love dasa is amazing.

32:36
is amazing. Look her up. She’s just First off is absolutely beautiful. And she has so many amazing meditations. But she’s great perspective on my soul to

32:46
Oh my god. Fabulous. I love that one. Tres. Thank you for sharing last. And what about a piece of advice you love to give people like if you were lying on your deathbed, and you had to give a last parting piece of advice, what would you say? Well,

33:02
I it took me a while to learn this one. Now, let’s say Bosch. Take care of yourself. Because I think if you take care of yourself, you can see more clearly. You can trust your instincts. You can trust your knowledge. You can own your own power. And you can get out of your own way and lead life all the way in. What you got to take care of yourself first.

33:28
Amazing tres thank you so much for coming on the podcast today. I so appreciate being here with you and you share in your your experience or knowledge or your 360 journey, your wisdom, your enthusiasm. I love being your coach. Honestly, it’s a real joy for me you bring so much joy into the group and your your catchphrase is like a fashionista as well. So we’re always like, oh, tres. Have you been to come to our village or what did you get here? She’s like the inspiration. So thank you so much for coming on the show today.

33:59
Thank you, Lucy and you are my inspiration. So have a wonderful weekend.